MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Argentina, Marsans, Airbus reach Aerolineas pre-accord

The Argentine government and the Spanish tourism group Marsans have reached a tentative “pre-accord” regarding the re-nationalization of the country's air flag carrier Aerolineas without compensation, according to Wednesday press reports from Madrid.

"A pre-accord exists" by which Marsans would recover 150 million Euros the group had advanced to the European manufacturer Airbus for the acquisition of new aircrafts. The contract would later be totally assumed by Argentina. Apparently the Spanish group and Airbus, which would see the contract fall if Marsans abandons the air industry, are "satisfied" with the deal. "Once this is written into a contract and signed, Marsans would withdraw its claim against Argentina which it presented at the World Bank's International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes, CIADI", In December, Argentine lawmakers approved the seizure of Aerolineas without compensating Marsans after negotiations for the sale of the struggling airline failed. The administration of Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner argues that Marsans mismanaged the airline, but Marsans denies the charge and says it was the victim of frozen air fares and unions disruption. Before this week's official visit of the Argentine president to Spain, newspapers in Spain and Argentina had been reporting the two sides were close to a deal under which Argentina would buy dozens of Airbus planes ordered by Marsans for Aerolineas Argentinas in return for Marsans dropping a legal challenge to the seizure. Marsans is keen for Argentina to take the planes -- around half the 73 aircraft order struck in 2007 -- to avoid losing the 150 million Euros in deposit payments already made, according to the Spanish newspaper El Pais. Spanish media also quoted sector sources as saying that Airbus wanted assurances from Argentina that it would guarantee the deal, including four A380 super-jumbos, since the contract was signed with Marsans, not Aerolineas. Aerolineas earlier this month signed an agreement to buy 12 B737-700 aircraft from Boeing. Argentine Foreign Minister Jorge Taiana, who accompanied Mrs. Kirchner on the visit, said talks to end the dispute were progressing, but did not comment on the Airbus order. "Certainly, there is a law in process, and certainly there have been different conversations that are developing in a positive climate. I don't want to put a timeframe on the resolution of the dispute," he said. Argentine Transport Secretary Ricardo Jaime told a local radio in Buenos Aires that the government was already in direct talks with Airbus to take over part of the contract signed by Marsans.